Category Archives: Fundraising

I have never been rich, but I have been poor. At one point in my adult life, I had five cents to my name. Fortunately I was naive and in my twenties and thought anything was possible. I survived that low financial point in my life but have never been able to say I was “rich” either.

Part of the reason I have survived — and thrived — even though I mostly live paycheck to paycheck, is that I use available resources. Businesses, families — and non-profits can all benefit from using available resources. It’s part of being “green,” but it’s also part of being smart. I admire programs that use volunteer labor, local goods and services, and leverage available resources to build a win-win return.

One of those programs is the Connect2Complete program of the Ohio Campus Compact, which uses VISTA volunteer labor to make a positive impact on whole communities. Another clever use of resources is OCC’s Pay It Forward program, which develops volunteerism in young people, strengthens communities, and improves student learning, with a minimum investment of cash.

Very clever programs that return maximum impact.

I just got back from the doctor’s, where I dropped $165 on lab work. A real hit to the weekly budget. But you know what? Easter’s around the corner, so eggs are on sale. We’ll be eating eggs for a while. You adjust, get creative, and you dig out. We should all be as creative as they are at Ohio Campus Compact – they’ve taught me a lot. I am happy to have them as a client!

What programs do you know of that make clever use of resources?

To build a relationship with a grant funder you do not know yet, the best way to start is to call them on the phone or e-mail then with an (intelligent) question. This is assuming you have read everything published on their foundation (website, wikipedia, google, etc.) and your missions align. Start a conversation, and ask them all about their history, mission, goals, current status, and have a BRIEF description of your program ready when they ask about you. Hopefully you will get them interested in your program and how it meets a critical need they want to address, and they invite you to apply.  Keep communication open during the application process, asking pertinent questions and getting your application in well ahead of time. Some funders appreciate an invitation (or require it) to visit your organization and see the work of your organization – take this as an opportunity not to wine and dine them, but to show how your organization fulfills its mission and the passion behind your organization. Respect their timeline and DON’T bug them if they discourage calls, or if their Board has not met yet to review apps. If you’re NOT funded, keep communication lines open, ask questions and LISTEN to what they tell you about why they did not fund you, take what they say VERY seriously, and try again, if that’s warranted. If you are funded, a letter of thanks, periodic status reports, and invitations to see their dollars in action are always appreciated.

Fundraising on a contingency basis is not considered ethical. I refer you to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards at afpnet.org. Grant Professional Association’s Ethics Statement echoes their sentiment — see grantprofessionals.org. The funder is awarding dollars based on several variables, including the community need, the efficacy of the project, and the organization’s capacity to implement, deliver, monitor, and sustain the project. The funder is not awarding funds based entirely on the expertise of the (fundraising firm). I urge you to rethink this compensation strategy, and perhaps consider performance-based compensation, such as bonuses, instead.

Originally asked by Krystal yates, SPHR on LinkedIn

The best fundraiser I have been a part of was an event that completely and totally enveloped the organization’s mission and the event’s theme and purpose. The invitation, venue choice, ticket price, room layout, EVERYTHING strategically reminded guests what the event was about. It was very successful and raised awareness for the organization AND raised the funds necessary to reach their goal. Read more on my website about this event for Phoenix Rising Printmaking Cooperative.